The National Council for Women (NCW) called on Egypt's Ministry of Interior and security officials in Egypt's northwestern governorate of Matrouh, Saturday, to take the required action to find Sara Abdel-Malik, a 13-year-old girl who was reportedly kidnapped in September.

Abdel-Malik's father had filed a complaint to the the national body for women's issues, reporting that his teenage daughter was kidnapped after leaving school on 30 September.

According to the father, the girl was kidnapped by a young man who forcibly married her despite the fact that she is still a child.

In the Saturday statement published on their official website, the NCW expressed its complete rejection of child marriage, adding that it is forbidden under Egyptian law. The legal marital age in Egypt is currently 18 years old.

In May, a controversial law lowering the marriage age was put to the now-dissolved People's Assembly (lower house of parliament), sparking uproar among women's rights organisations.

Similarly, human rights groups and political figures condemned recent calls by Islamist members of Egypt's Constituent Assembly to reduce the marital age for women to as young as nine years old.

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Chris

30-10-2012 10:24pm

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Why leave out the fact that it is a Christian girl?

The real news story is that this Sarah Abdel Malek is a Coptic (christian) girl who was kidnapped by a Muslim. This happens all the time in Egypt, especially since Mursi took over.
@Marica It is NOT haram to marry a child. In fact the Quran speaks of even how to divorce a child before it has had mentrustation. The Quran never speaks of a minimal age for marriage. Not once. So don't tell us its haram. Its normal Islamic law that says a man can marry a child.

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Marica

28-10-2012 11:50pm

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Djakovic

ARE IT IS EGYPT GOVERMENT NORMAL CANT BABY FROM 9 YEAR HAVE MARRY ARE THEY NORMAL MINIMUM NEED BE 18 YEAR IT IS NOT NORMALNO IT IS BIG HARRAMMMMM IT NOT HAVE IN QURAN.... IT MUST STAP............

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Amourah Idris, Aswan

28-10-2012 01:42am

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DIversion

You have undermined your political demand by addressing a pity a social crime. Remain focus and act like men sisters. No onew will take you serious anymore.

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Aladdin, egypt

27-10-2012 10:01pm

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Big Mistake

You have belittle your association cause to address a pity crime of kidnapping. Act tough and defend women rights first. I am disappointed in you!